Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-04
yAssAR MUrrNous PoUT.
r youug Rebel Students Ere
" pairing TO defy the Faculty

.+ion of Independence. Inc meihpeIs Va
.hrea lower classes OF the college
taye a grievance which has Drou9ac
- q GOODNESS between the under
auates and faculty. 1t has existed
w some time, but the strained relations
.ro likely to develop intoa condition OF
'sairs little short of open rebellion. A
Ter a.,or ofdress is what has brought about
VI ,nis fuss. and girls propose to snow
~ 81 TAYLOR. the new president, ana mis- as
pi1'iatos that Wnen woman Will sue Will,
~ though she is only young woman
eve ,rasn,t 80 many years ago that the
~ avIstence Of Vassar was threatened
.ei5 lively agitation over the question OF
soo,,'inin costume. But then III was
..,ha sweet girl graduates" VINO kicheu
oil the fuss because someoody oo-
; ap to the peculiar style OF dress they
nrop0sed to adopt for commencement. IL
i onlv juniors, sophomoreS anu iiosnne"
Tho figure as rebels.
Wnst Point is only a short distance
,rom Poughkeepsie, and the cadets at
..hnluilitarv Academy and the Nassar
nirIe have long been regarded as allies.
That the latter should betray fondness,
g NOT even a weakness. for uniforms
.ninbt he thought pardonable were 1t not
Tor the fact that popular impression ex-
ists mat when young woman enters
Tossar She is supposed to leave all her
Nance al nome. 1t is barely possible
,Snt ,limpses of the uniforms worn at the
Piveryiew Military Academy, seen
tnron Oh the lodges that shut vassar OUT
trom the world, when the CADETS conde-
scend to exhibit themselves from time 10
time. NAV have inspired the V assar girls
InG
,bev can be distinguished from the
ot6er pretty girls of Poughkeepsie.
tsnv rate. they want to adopt a uni
t,rm mt the faculty won't have 1t. That
80 what all this s'tempest in a teapot" Is
nhn,lt. The Young women are mad be-
ranse this last pet scheme of theirs has
bpen so dsdainfully treated.
Same time ago committee waited
pnon President Taylor and requested
him to ask the faculty to recommend the
adontion of the capand gown, such as
ia worn bv the students OF English uni
yersities. He told them frankly that he
did not think it was necessary. IL ls re-
pOrted that he cited passages OF scripture
in answer to the petition and entreatles
Of his fair charges to point out what aw-
ful things happen to people whose pflue
conouers them. There is no secret that
donning the cap and gown would make
them seem affected. This puncture OF self
nride was too much for the Vassar girls
Of spirit, and they determined that they
would have a uniform in spite OF the
presideut, who hasn't been in the college
as long as the sOphOmOres. Secret meet
IDgs were held, and some OF the leaders
held receptions to further the scheme, and
Tor several weeks the liveliest sort of agi-
tation has been kept up. A powerful
lobby was organized and feminine arts
taxed to win supporters among the fac
ulty. When the question finally came
I'D at one OF the weekly meetings OF that
body the cap and gown business was voted
down by large majority. Than an APP
peal was made to the trustees, but with
no better result.
Though beaten at every point the cher
ished scheme is by no means abandoned.
The students say they will adopt the uni
form any way. Even il the faculty per-
slst in declining to indorse 1t the girls de-
clare that they will get as many of the
students as they can to wear the cap and
gown. and they defy the faculty to die
tate to them what they shall or shall not
wear. They think it is real mean that
Nassar should not respect this relic OF
ancient academic tradition when even
two-year-old Bryn Mawr, near PhIladel-
phia, has placed this mark of distinction
on her intellectual charges. That is what
makes the Vassar girls cross all the
harder to bear.
Canvassing has been brisk during the
past few days, as the most enthusiastic
supporters know that their only salvation
is in acting while the enthusiasm is al
the flood. Next week the Easter recess
Il. .erla
the world, the leaders realize, will crowd
out all thoughts of cap and gown. Be-
sides, there will be plenty of other thin gs
to claim attention, such as the Junior re.
ceptiOns and society anniversaries and
literary and social contests. For all
these reasons Vassar is busy place this
week. An effort will be made TO get the
three lower classes to take some uniten
action as soon as sufficient pledges are
secured to make il a fOregOne conclusion
that the cap and gown party can win.
The class OF $50 held q secret meeting
on Monday night. Under the Leadership
Otthe daughter Of a well-known banker oil
mis- olty. and after electioneering that
would have excited the envy other papa's
political friends, sophomores pledge d
themselves to the uniform. This class
instituted the whole thing, and the mem
le. Ii 1t doesn't win it won't be the
iault of 'S9. But reporter was assured
Yesterday that the uniform was certain
10 be adopted. AS the seniors have only
Jew months longer to remain at the
college, commencement occurring in
June, the class of'S7 in not in this fight,
ana The juniors, sophOmores and fresh
men alone are concerned. This reduces
soooe number of probable rebels to about
-'o' Ii they have the courage TODD SO
PROBABLY that many young women will
sVon maze their appearance in the black
shull-cap surmounted by mortar boa I'd
anu tassel and sombre, flowing gown,
such as students at Harvard and Prince
ION wear at commencement time. The
urst public parade will be on Baccalau-
Iesie sunday, early in June, but there
VIII no doubt be numerous private re-
aearsals before the mirror by the fair
yy"hers OF the unsightly costume "thats
English, you know"
"A reporter yesterday visited Vassar to
nnu out now this fierce fight was pro-
eeselhg. When he asked one OF the
Uaueis ABOUT IL she seemed very much
sIpilsed that anything should be known
ABOUT, outside,the hedge around about the
ator: "e'
NJ On, move are not discouraged because
ss 'Seuity has declined TO recommend the
s@p ana gown. They may finally come
around to think as we do abou. il. for we
sS 9 Hythg very hard TO nave them recon.
sqer their action. But even If thew
S.in still remain OF the same mind ii
t %,i nave no effect with us, for thiuk il
A. ene Wlsh OF nearly all the students that
,ut Uniform should be adontad Wa no.